California State University-Los Angeles Reviews

"Some of the pros of my graduate program are that it is very rigorous in research with heavy use of SPSS which will be very valuable in research. The work load is very dense and the cohort is quite small. Some of the cons are that the school is very underfunded, which makes financial aid unavailable to many students such as myself."

"Pros: Amazing faculty and students -the diversity is unmatched! Affordability of Grad School for same quality program as say USC. Cons:very poor school/little resources to go around, campus safety can be an issue at times, their undergrad programs are subpar,"

"The professors of my program were almost all incredible, knowledgeable, and available to their students. Many gave their students their cell phone number to be reached in case students needed more guidance and information. The instructors are passionate and so are the majority of your peers but there are a few who you hope never make it out of the program and into a classroom. Financial aid is nonexistent for graduates unless loans count. Peers and teachers sort of helped with networking to become knowledgeable about the interview process, the real world, and possible job openings but the career center did not help me much. It felt like an office you can go to but not a place that could really help you figure out your next move besides teaching you some interview tips."

"My graduate program (Environmental Science with option - hydrology) is interesting as it integrates hydrogeology with environmental science. I'm able to learn about different applicable software, field methods, and environmental policy. My faculty advisors take interest in my research, guide me in the right direction, and are very flexible with what classes you want to choose. The library also has certain resouces for graduate students such as thesis guidelines and help with writing the references section. However, I am dissapointed with the lack of funding sources for graduate research. Also, there are a lack of classes that focus on environmental science issues. Also, my specific program doesn't have many research students as most of them choose the internship/project option under faculty research. I would like more encouragement from faculty members to have graduate students pursue their own research in various topics."

"Cons: The program has many students that make it hard for people to get classes they need in order to graduate on time. Before being able to get into the internship must complete a few course which makes it hard to graduate on time. Pros: Supportive administration always available to help the student with advisement or anything the student might need help with. The best part of the BSW program is that we need a year of internship which is great you get to practice everything you know and learn in your Social Work classes. Basically it helps you build your network and it is an opportunity to get hired somewhere after graduation."

"UCLA presents a great learning environment enriched by a diverse faculty and student body."

"Pros: Since it's a state school, the tuition is relatively inexpensive. Cons: You get what you pay for. Not the best instruction. I feel there is a lot to be desired in that area, and sometimes feel as if I will not be adequately educated by the time I'm in the workforce. The administration is a mess. A lot of times it feels as if I'm stuck with taking care of administrative things, which only adds to my already high workload of trying to balance work and school. The down-low: If you're considering getting your master's in nursing (or doctorate's for that matter) at CSULA, look elsewhere. Really do your research and talk to current students at other schools to get a feel for how it may be like. If you do end up at CSULA, be prepared for a lot of frustration."

"If a student is seeking a university with a diverse faculty, CALSTATE Los Angeles is not the right school. The majority of professors are liberals and one-sided."

"In this program you get a good quality education that is affordable for students. One thing that is difficult to deal with in the program however is the tension between faculty members within some of the departments."

"Our program is still in the beginning stages which means there are still a lot of bumps in the road. I find that while the teachers are accessible, the department isn't very communicative when it comes to knowing about scholarships or how to push us to get the most out of the program. We have fantastic equipment in theatre arts and film, but still need the open availability to use it. I really enjoy the classes i have had thus far, but am worried about the order in which they scheduled them. A lot of film majors were thrown in to directing for theatre, where in fact, they should have taken the Stage ops class before ever being put in to a directing class. The classes being 10 weeks are not necessarily long enough for some students, as they need a bit more help when it comes to certain projects. I do however like the brisk flow and the responsibility given to us in order to perform and make things happen. I only wish we had more access to materials as graduate students. Free printing privileges, a lounge for studying only for ourselves, open access to editing bays etc. would help benefit our whole class."

"The pros of my graduate program is that the information provided by the program dives students a diverse perspective. As students we learn to see world with open eyes and can understand and respond to different situations unlike any other department provides. The only con is that their are not enough available classes, if more classes were available maybe more students would be interested in Chicano/a studies and how significant it is to living in the United States."

"Great graduate program in Biology, supportive faculty and mentors, structured program and prospectus/thesis guidelines, available financial aid. Overall good experience as a MS graduate student in this program."